History of Odia Language and Literature Quiz

A Brief History of Odia Language and Literature

Odia, historically known as Oriya, is a language that has evolved over centuries, originating in the 10th century CE and adapted from the ancient language of Magadhi Prakrit. The language is part of the Indo-Aryan language family and is spoken by over 45 million people worldwide.

Early History and Development

The earliest evidence of Odia writing dates back to the 7th to 9th centuries CE, during the Proto-Oriya period, also known as the Pre-Odia period. The first instance of Odia writing was found on a stone inscription of Ananta Varma Bajrahasta Deva, dated to 1051 CE. Inscriptions from the 10th century onwards provide evidence for the existence of the Old Odia language.

Milestones in Literature

The earliest known poetry in Odia can be traced back to the Charyapadas, which date from the 7th to the 9th centuries. The first poetic classic was composed in the 15th century, and literary prose began to take shape in the 18th century. The first classical poetic form of Odia was composed in the 15th century, and the first instances of literary prose began in the 18th century.

Sarala Das, who lived in the 14th century, is considered the Vyasa of Odisha, as he wrote the Mahabharata into Odia. The language was initially standardized through a process of translating or transcreating classical Sanskrit texts such as the Ramayana and the Bhagavad Gita.

Influences and Changes

Odia has been heavily influenced by the Dravidian languages, as well as Arabic, Persian, and English, resulting in a rich and diverse lexicon. The Odia vocabulary was enriched with words from languages such as Tamil, Telugu, Turkish, French, Marathi, Portuguese, and Sanskrit. Words borrowed from Sanskrit occur in two forms: tatsama (close to the original form) and tadbhava (remote from the original form).

Sanskritized style remains prevalent in scholarly writing and speech in Odia. However, Odia has also absorbed influences from English, such as indirect speech, relative clauses, and passive constructions, which are considered nonstandard forms.

Literary and Cultural Heritage

In 2014, Odia was designated a classical language by the Government of India, on the basis of having a long literary history and not having borrowed extensively from other languages. The first Odia newspaper, Utkala Deepika, was launched in 1866, and more Odia newspapers followed in the years to come.

The rich literary heritage of Odia includes the works of authors such as Sarala Das, the Shishu Veda, Saptanga, Amara Kosha, Rudrasudhanidhi, Kesaba Koili, Kalasa Chautisa, and Rama-Bibaha. The classical Odia music, which dates back to the 14th century, has also contributed to the cultural richness of the state.

Conclusion

The history of Odia language is a testament to a rich and diverse heritage, with the language evolving over centuries to become one of the most prominent in India. Odia has a unique literary tradition, having been influenced by various languages and cultures, while preserving its distinct identity.